Track Hotel Prices & Rebook When Rates Drop

This guide shows you how to automatically track hotel room rates after you book, and how to rebook at the lower price when prices drop. You’ll learn which tools to use, how to set up price alerts, and the exact steps to cancel and rebook without losing your reservation. No special skills are needed—just a few minutes to set things up.

What You’ll Need

• A hotel booking confirmation (with your reservation number)
• Access to the email account you used for the booking
• A free account on a price-tracking service (like Pruvo, or use Google Hotels alerts)
• A credit card or payment method for any potential rebooking (though you’ll usually get a refund)

Step-by-Step

1. Check the cancellation policy of your current booking. Log into the hotel’s website or the booking platform (e.g., Booking.com, Expedia, Hotels.com). Find the cancellation terms. You need to know if you can cancel free of charge up to a certain date. If not, rebooking may incur fees, so weigh that against the savings.
2. Choose a price-tracking tool. The most common options are:
   • Pruvo – a free service that monitors your existing bookings and automatically rebooks for you if the price drops. You forward your confirmation email to them.
   • Google Hotels – you can set up price alerts for specific hotels and dates, but it doesn’t track your existing reservation.
   • Manual checking – you can check the hotel’s own website or booking sites yourself, but this is time-consuming.
3. Forward your booking confirmation to the tracking service (if using Pruvo). Open the confirmation email you received from the hotel or booking site. Forward it to the address provided by the tracking service (e.g., for Pruvo, it’s bookings@pruvo.com). The service will parse the details and start monitoring.
4. Set up a manual price alert on Google Hotels (optional). Go to google.com/travel/hotels. Enter your hotel name, check-in and check-out dates, and number of guests. Click the bell icon or “Track prices” to set an alert. You’ll get emails when prices change.
5. Monitor your email for alerts. If the tracking service finds a lower rate, you’ll receive an email with the new price and a link to rebook. For Google alerts, you’ll get a notification when prices drop.
6. Verify the new rate. Click the link in the alert or search for the same hotel and dates on the booking site. Make sure the new rate is for the same room type, same dates, and same number of guests. Check if the new rate includes breakfast or other perks that your original booking had—sometimes a lower price is for a less flexible rate.
7. Book the new rate. Go ahead and reserve the room at the lower price. Use the same booking site or the hotel’s website. Make sure you complete the booking before canceling the old one, so you don’t end up without a room.
8. Cancel the original booking. After you’ve secured the new reservation, cancel the old one. Follow the cancellation instructions in your original confirmation email or on the booking site. Confirm you receive a full refund (if applicable).
9. If using Pruvo, let them handle the rebooking (optional). Pruvo can automatically rebook for you if the price drops, but you need to enable that in your account settings. They’ll send you a notification, and you just confirm.

Common Mistakes

• Not checking the cancellation policy. If you cancel a non-refundable booking, you’ll lose the full amount. Always check before rebooking.
• Comparing different room types. Ensure the new rate is for the same room (e.g., standard vs. deluxe). A cheaper rate might be for a room without a view or with a less flexible cancellation.
• Forgetting about taxes and fees. The displayed price may not include resort fees, taxes, or parking. Compare the total price, not just the base rate.
• Booking the new rate and forgetting to cancel the old one. You’ll end up paying for two rooms if you don’t cancel the original.
• Assuming the tracking service catches every drop. Prices can change multiple times a day. A service like Pruvo checks frequently, but it’s not real-time. Manual alerts might miss a brief dip.

Tips

• Book with free cancellation from the start. This gives you the flexibility to rebook without risk.
• Check prices directly on the hotel’s website. Sometimes the hotel offers a lower rate than third-party sites, and they may match or beat a competitor’s price.
• Set alerts for multiple dates. If your travel dates are flexible, you can see if shifting your stay by a day or two saves money.
• Use a credit card with price protection. Some cards offer price rewind or price protection, which can refund you the difference if the price drops after purchase. Check your card’s benefits.
• Be patient. Prices often drop closer to the check-in date if the hotel has unsold rooms. But don’t wait too long—if the hotel sells out, you might not get a room at all.

Troubleshooting

• No price alerts are coming. Check your spam folder. If using Pruvo, verify you forwarded the correct confirmation email. For Google, make sure you clicked “Track prices” and that you’re signed into the same Google account.
• The tracking service found a lower price, but it’s not bookable. Sometimes the price is for a different room type or the dates are slightly different. Read the alert carefully. If it’s not bookable, ignore it.
• You can’t cancel your original booking online. Call the hotel or booking site’s customer service. Have your reservation number ready.
• The new booking is more expensive than the old one. Double-check that you’re comparing the same room and dates. If the price went up, don’t rebook—just keep your original booking.
• You canceled the original but the refund hasn’t appeared. Refunds can take 5-10 business days to process. If it’s been longer, contact the booking site or hotel.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often do hotel prices drop after booking?

It varies. Hotels often lower prices to fill unsold rooms, especially in the last few weeks before check-in. But prices can also go up. There’s no guarantee, but tracking increases your chances of catching a drop.

Is it worth the hassle to rebook for a $20 difference?

That depends on your time and the cancellation policy. If it’s a quick, free cancellation and rebooking, even $20 might be worth it. But if you have to call customer service and wait on hold, maybe not.

Can I use this method for non-refundable bookings?

No. If your booking is non-refundable, you can’t cancel without losing the full amount. You could still book a new, cheaper rate and eat the cost of the first one, but that rarely makes sense.

Does Pruvo work with all booking sites?

Pruvo works with most major booking sites and hotel chains. You can check their website for a list of supported partners. In general, if you can forward the confirmation email, they can track it.

Will the hotel penalize me for rebooking at a lower rate?

No. You’re a customer, and you’re following the cancellation policy. Hotels expect this. Just make sure you cancel properly and within the allowed time frame.

Can I negotiate directly with the hotel for a lower rate?

Sometimes. If you find a lower rate on a competitor’s site, call the hotel and ask if they’ll match it. They might, especially if you book directly with them.

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